Game



Aug., 15, 1939. G. o. MATTER 2,169,266

lGAME:

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. l, 1937 INVENTOR www Aug. 15, 1939.

Filed Nov.v 1, 1957 G. O. MATTER' GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CORRECT HNSJS 5ALE M WA. AMERICA .D/5C0 YEREB CORRECTANLIS SA L E M MY ANSWER l5 TIME 20SEC.

Figli INVENTOR WW www.,

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to amusement devices and in particularto games of knowledge wherein a problem is indicated for solution andthe correct solution is also indicated and arranged so as to remove alldoubt as to the correct solution and the time required to solve theproblem.

An object of this invention is to provide means whereby the problem tobe solved is exposed to view with a space provided to indicate therein asupposed solution of the problem and to provide means whereby, after aperiod of time, the problem indicated is removed from View and thesupposed solution and the correct solution are exposed to view.

Another object is to provide means for recording the time consumed insolution of the problem.

Another object, when several players of the game are in competition withone another, 1s to provide means for indicating when a player hascompleted the solution.

Another object is to provide a means for stopping the time recordingdevice and exposing the correct solution to the problem when the playerhas completed a supposed solution.

rihe foregoing objects will be amplified and other objects will appearin and from the following specification considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, which are for purposes of illustration andnot intended as a deiination of the invention, the invention being denedin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts 'throughout the several views:

Fig. I is a side elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of myinvention, showing the operating mechanism in normal position.

Fig. II is a view similar to Fig. I, showing the mechanism and a problemcard positioned so the problem and the space for the supposed solutionare exposed to View.

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II except that the mechanism andproblem card are positioned so that the problem is removed from View andthe supposed solution and the correct solution are exposed to View.

Fig. IV is a section on line IV--IV of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a top plan View of a portion of Fig. II showing the problemcard in the position shown in that iigure.

Fig. VI is a top plan view of a portion of Fig. III showing the problemcard in the position shown in that gure.

Fig. VII is a left hand elevation of a portion of Fig. I.

Fig. VIII is a schematic diagram of the electric circuits involved.

Fig. IX is a plan View of a form of problem card.

Fig. X is a sectional elevation of a modiiied Referring to the drawings,I indicates a pile of problem cards, of the general type shown in Fig.

IX, each with a diiierent problem thereon.

By energizing the solenoid 2 which causes the armature 3 with arm 4 andhook 5 to move in the direction of the arrow, the hook 5 contacts thebottom card la which is moved, in the guide Ib, from under the pile i tothe position shown in Figs. II and V.

The armature 3 is returned to its normal position by spring 6 whensolenoid 2 is de-energized.

When the solenoid 'l is energized the armature 8, with its' arms 9 andpawls I9, moves in the direction of the arrow, the pawls l0 contactingthe card la, when in the position shown in Figs. II and V, move the cardto the position shown in Figs. III and VI.

The armature il is returned to its normal position by spring il whensolenoid 'l is de-energized.

A case l2 surrounds the operating mechanism and the problem cards l areheld in alinement by the casing i3 which has a cover i4.

Any suitable electrically operated time recording device i5 is provided.

An opening i6 in the top of case l2 permits the player to write ananswer to the problem on the card ia when it is in the position shown inFigs. II and V, at which time the question on the card is viewed throughthe transparent plate il and the correct answer to the problem isobstructed from view.

When the card la. is in the position shown in Figs. III and VI thecorrect answer is viewed through the opening I6 and the answer writtenon the card by the player is viewed through the transparent plate Il andthe problem is obstructed from view.

The purpose of the plate Il is to eliminate any tendency to alter theplayers supposed answer after the correct answer is brought to View andat the same time to permit checking oi the players answer with thecorrect answer.

The problems on the several cards being of a diierent nature, theaverage time for solution oi a problem would vary, therefore, especiallyif only one player is playing the game, a time limit is indicated inconnection with each problem as shown in Figs. V, VI, IX and XII, and ifthe player solves the problem within the indicated time he is assumed tohave won the game.

In the modified form shown in Figs. X, XI and XII a tape I8 is usedinstead of the cards I, the tape I8 having indicated on one facethereof, problems, spaces for the players solution and the correctanswer, similar to the cards l and lAll) arranged in consecutive orderon the tape as shown in Fig. XII.

The solenoid 2a, when energized, moves the armature 3a in the directionof the arrow and thereby the rod 20 attached to arms 2l which carrypawls 22 operate toothed wheel 23 and. friction wheel 24 which movestape l5' into a position equal to that shown in Fig. V, the solenoid 2ais de-energized and the spring 25 returns the arms 2l, pawls 22 and rod20 to their normalj;

position and when the solenoid 'la is energized the armature 3a, withthe aid of the bar 26, moves the arms 2l in the direction of the arrowthereby moving the tape I8 into a position equal to that shown in Fig.VI. t

When several players are playing the game in competition with oneanother the operation is as follows: y y

The attendant closes the switch 27 for each game that vis intended to beplayed and when all players are ready to start solving their problemthe' attendant closes switch 28 on main cirlcuit wires 28a, and 28h andkeeps it closed only long enough to supply electric energy to all of thegames which have their respective switches 21 closed, the solenoid 2 isenergized through wires 21a and 2lb and thereby the lower problem `cardla., of each of the piles o-f cards I, is moved into a position whichplaces the problem under the transparent plate Il and the space providedon the card forthe player to write an answer to the problem is withinthe opening I6 which ex- Nposes .to View, both the problem and theplayers written answer while the correct answer is obstructed fromview.`

' When the solenoid 2 is energized the solenoid 29 is also energized andthe armature 3B moves the switch arm 3| into the position shown indotted outline as Sla, closing switch 32, thus forming a circuit on maincircuit wires 33 and 33a through wires 32a, 32h and 32e, time recordingdevice l5 and wire V32d and the time is being Vvrecorded while theproblem lis being solved.

As soon as a player has written a solution to the problem, in the spaceprovided therefore, the player presses the switch button 34 against thespring 35 Vand the switch button stem 36 closes Aspring switch 31 and acircuit is made from wire 33, through wire 32o', switch 32, wire 32h,switch 31, wire 3B, solenoid l, and wire 3S to wire33a thus energizingsolenoid 'l which moves arma.-

Yture 8 and thereby the problem card la is moved into a position whichplaces the players written answer, to the problem, under the transparentplate I] and the correctV answer within the open- ,ing I6 exposing toview, both the players answer and the correct answer while the problemis obstructed from view.

At this same time the arm 40 attached to armature 8 moves the switch arm3l into the position Vshown in full lines thereby opening switch 32 andclosing switch 4l which forms a circuit vfrom Wire 33 through wire lila,light 42, switch 4l and wire Mc to wire 33d. A light 42 connected toeach'device can be placed in any location conveniently observed by theattendant and indicates that the respective player has completed thesolution of the problem.

At the time the switch 32 is opened the circuit to the time recordingdevice I5 is broken t'nus .stopping its operation and indicating thetime required to solve the problem and also the circuit to the solenoid1 is broken and the armature with its attached parts is returned tol itsnormal position by the spring Il.

All parts are now inoperative, except the light 472, and remain so untilthe attendant again closes the switch 28 at fthel start of another game.

The problems in the several devices vary and itis possible that eachplayer in the same game Vmay have a dilerent problem to solve and in.that case there is no particular advantage in a playerobserving theanswer of any of the other 1 players.

The player who solves the problem correctly in the shortest period oftime is to be considered thewinn'er of the game, in which case the timeindicated on each problem card is disregarded.

VIf the various problems'vary considerably as .to the time required intheir solution then the cycle of operation would be the same as juststated but-the player who correctly solves the problem in the shortestperiod of time in proportion Vto the time indicated on the problem cardwill be considered the winner.

If only one player is playing the game in competition with time then theoperation is the same as' when" vseveral players are' playing but theplayer can be considered to have won the game Aby solving the problemcorrectly within the time indicated on the problem card.

From the foregoing it will be understood that all ofthe objects of thisinvention have been accomplished, although I have herewith illustratedvan electrical control for causing the operation ofthe mechanism, anydesirable Vform of control may be utilized without inthe least departingfrom the spirit of my invention as deiined by the appended claims. A y

What I claim is:

1. lIn a machine of the class described, a container, a plurality ofcards in said container that substantially fit the inner cross-sectionthereof and solenoid operated hooksthat are effective to` vpartiallyremove one card from the bottom of those in the container and expose itpartially to View and another solenoid operated means that isneffectiveto move the card to cover a part thereof theretofore exposed and touncover the part that was concealed by the iirst operation.

2. In a machine of the class described, a box member, cardsbearingindicia in said box member, a body upon which said box member ismounted, said body being provided with an opening adjacent Y*the box andtransparencies adjacent the opening, with hook means positioned to beelective to move a card from the bottom of the box, expose 4a part of itunder the opening Vand another part under the transparency and anotherhook means for further moving the card selectively, to expose a partthe-retofore hidden and4 to move the part theretofore under the openingto a position beneath the transparency.

3. In a machine of the class described, a boxlike 'container that opensdownwardly, indicia .bearing cards that are ystacked in said containerabase member upon which said container is mounted, mechanism that iseffective to partially move one card from the bottom of those in thecontainer and partially expose it to view and another mechanismeffective to move the card to uncover apart thereof theretoforeconcealed.

GUSTAVE O. MATTER.

